Crium (/ˈkriːəm/)

Crium is an exceptional mineral gemstone that exhibits a unique interplay of organic and inorganic chemistry. It originates from criumite trees, which grow in the mineral-rich soil surrounding the sea of Khasemar. The trees have a unique metabolic pathway that transforms the abundant minerals into crystalline gemstones deep within their roots. Over the years, these gemstones grow, accumulating energy derived from the tree's photosynthetic activities, and eventually they take on their distinct form — crium. The physical properties of crium are as distinctive as their origins. The gemstones exhibit a lustrous sheen that ranges from deep azure to brilliant teal, with intricate vein-like structures shimmering beneath their surface. Their energy storage capabilities made them the power source of choice for warmachina during the time of the Sarentek Confederation. In their charged state, crium gemstones emanate a soft glow and a slight humming vibration, perceptible only in close proximity. Despite their profound energy storage, crium gemstones are quite fragile. They are prone to shattering, and any sudden shock can result in a violent release of their stored energy, resulting in an explosion. Over time, as the gemstones expend their energy, they lose their vibrant color, eventually turning into a dull gray. While they can be recharged with sophisticated machinery, the loss of knowledge around such machinery and the rarity of crium has led to most being discarded once depleted. Despite their volatile nature, the power they provide has made them a staple material of Sarenteki technology, and its new scarcity plays a strong role in the struggles of the societies that once relied upon them.

Criumite Trees

Criumite trees are a unique species of flora native to the regions surrounding the sea of Khasemar. They are a sight to behold, standing tall with their towering trunks and spreading canopies that shimmer with a teal sheen under the sun. This coloration is due to the high mineral content absorbed from the soil and reflected in their leaves, a characteristic trait of the species. The lifecycle of a criumite tree is notably slow, its growth measured in decades rather than years. The seeds are buoyant and are dispersed by the currents of Khasemar, coming to rest in mineral-rich soil where they slowly germinate and take root. With the passage of time, the young saplings dig their roots deep into the earth, reaching the rich mineral deposits that are essential for their growth and the eventual formation of crium. Crium has a dual role in the life cycle of the criumite trees. Firstly, crium serves as an energy reserve for the tree. As the tree's roots absorb minerals and water, they also imbibe solar energy during the photosynthesis process. This energy, instead of being used immediately, is stored in the growing crium gemstones. It is believed that this stored energy aids the tree during times of environmental stress or during its growth phases. Secondly, crium acts as a natural defense mechanism for the criumite tree. The energy contained within the crium is released explosively when the gemstone is shattered. This characteristic, while dangerous to the unaware, serves to deter many potential predators and tree-damaging pests from the criumite tree, as any serious attempt to damage the tree or its roots can lead to a volatile release of energy from the crium. Despite these benefits to the tree, the harvesting of crium has led to many criumite trees being destroyed. Combined with the environmental changes following the Terminal Catastrophe, this has resulted in a significant decline in the criumite tree population, thereby exacerbating the rarity of crium in the present age.

Exploitation

Harnessing the energy within crium to power machinery and weaponry is a technological marvel that hails from the era of the Sarentek Confederation. The principle behind this technology is rooted in controlled energy release from the crium gemstones, a process achieved through what's known as "resonance induction". Resonance induction is the art of eliciting a vibrational response from the crium gemstone, essentially shaking it at a specific frequency that allows the stored energy to be released in a steady, controlled manner. This is accomplished by a series of carefully tuned oscillators and regulators, which are designed to work in harmony to initiate and manage the gemstone's energy output. The oscillators stimulate the gemstone's resonance, while the regulators control the pace of the energy release, allowing for a smooth flow of energy to the machinery or weaponry at hand. Machines powered by crium have a distinct aesthetic due to the integration of these induction systems. They feature cavities and mounts for the crium gemstones, along with a network of cables and conduits that channel the released energy to various components. Similarly, weaponry powered by crium often possess a reservoir for the gemstone and intricate circuitry to direct the energy, allowing for devastating discharges of force. However, the system requires careful calibration and maintenance, as a mismanaged induction could lead to an uncontrolled release of energy, which can have destructive consequences. Furthermore, due to the general bulkiness of resonance induction mechanisms, no portable weapon using crium as a source of energy was ever developed.

Decrease in Availability of Crium

The Terminal Catastrophe bore a particularly harsh toll on the criumite trees. Already sensitive and requiring precise conditions to thrive, the trees were greatly affected by the rapid and drastic shifts in weather patterns and overall environmental conditions brought about by the Catastrophe. Criumite trees grow optimally in very specific conditions, the type found around Khasemar. This involves a unique composition of the soil, an exact range of temperature, and a particular level of humidity, all found around the mineral-rich sea. However, the Catastrophe upset these delicate parameters, disrupting the trees' environment and hence, their growth and survival. Temperatures in the region, once consistently temperate, have now been subject to violent fluctuations, with extremes of both cold and heat becoming more common. The sea itself has been affected, with its once-stable mineral composition now disrupted, leading to an alteration of the nutrients that the criumite trees rely on. Additionally, the upheaval in the world's climate led to unpredictable and irregular precipitation, throwing the finely tuned moisture requirements of the trees into disarray. These disruptions have resulted in the criumite trees struggling to survive, with many dying out completely. Even the few that do manage to grow are not as robust or as productive as their predecessors. Their crium production rate is much lower, and the gems themselves are often smaller and less potent than the crium of old. The scarcity of crium has since become a matter of great concern for the remnant states of Sarentekia that relied heavily on crium-powered technology.

Implementation of Crium Technology

In the era of the Sarentek Confederation, crium technology revolutionized every facet of life. The most significant application of crium was in the creation of warmachina, colossal semi-autonomous automatons engineered for warfare. Outfitted with crium-powered weapons and engines, these towering machines were formidable on the battlefield, capable of devastating destruction and fortified defense. Beyond their military application, warmachina also provided labor for construction and transportation, serving as a symbol of the technological prowess of the Sarentek Confederation. Outside of warmachina, crium's applications were diverse and widespread. Cities were illuminated by crium-powered light fixtures, transportation systems propelled by crium engines, and factories run by machines driven by this resourceful gemstone. In homes, crium brought warmth, light, and powered a myriad of appliances. Medical technology, too, utilized crium in various treatments and life-support machines, enhancing healthcare significantly. However, the current scarcity of crium has dramatically affected the remnant-states of Sarentekia. With the diminished availability of this essential power source, many of the grand machines and technologies of the past have fallen into disuse. Warmachina, once the stalwarts of defense and industry, now stand silent and immobile, their once fearsome frames turned into decaying relics of a bygone era. Cities, once vibrant with crium-lit lights and bustling machinery, now bear the somber atmosphere of diminished vibrancy. The once ubiquitous hum of crium-powered engines has given way to the less efficient, manually-operated alternatives. Homes and public spaces have had to adapt to less luxurious means of lighting and heating, and healthcare has suffered due to the unavailability of crium for critical medical machinery. This new reality has fostered a sense of nostalgia for the age of crium and has made the remaining crium resources exceedingly valuable. The scarcity has also fueled conflicts over the remaining crium reserves and criumite trees, further straining the relationship between the remnant states and igniting a race for alternative sources of power. Yet, it has also spurred innovation and adaptation, as the need to move past the reliance on crium becomes more and more evident.

Type

Mineral

Rarity

Very rare

Color

Vibrant azure hue, often luminescent when fully charged

Density

3450 kg/m3

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